First, let me state I’ve never been to Seattle, but I’ve been to Vancouver, British Columbia, and while it was beautiful to be sure, I can’t say I liked it all that much. I found the beggars to be numerous and abusive, and I almost got into a fight with one of them when he made a move towards my group that I thought threatening. I’ve also seen the increasing number of young people panhandling along the freeways here in Phoenix. I published a post on this not long ago, so I’m not surprised this “Seattle is Dying” special on homelessness is getting so much attention and generating so much controversy.

I’ll agree it is a complex problem borne out of a number of factors, many of which are beyond the control of the average Joe. All I know is, what is happening in Seattle, Portland, and southern California is encroaching on Phoenix and is a cancer that has to be nipped in the bud before it spreads even further. I don’t have the answers, but I do know that in this day and age people ought to have the right to clean and drug-free streets and communities, and should not have to worry about being hassled by folks who are either lazy, addicted, or in any other way incapable or unwilling to work. It may sound cruel and (to some folks) un-Christian, but can anyone argue that this kind of rampant homelessness and addiction is good for society as a whole? What kind of lessons does it teach our children? How much money and resources are dedicated to this issue and this kind of population?

Of course, liberals and progressives will blather on about wealth inequality and the 1% bullshit, as if shaking down every billionaire and sticking wads of $100s into the pockets of the homeless will make a difference. All they want is a socialist, totalitarian society, and we’ve where that got the folks in Venezuela and behind the so-called “Iron Curtain” back in the mid-to-late 20th century. The fact is socialism doesn’t work and has never worked – all it does is put the money and power into the hands of a few who then do anything and everything to consolidate and exploit that power. You might be able to change socioeconomic systems, but you can’t change people.

I think what I would like to see is a national conversation about the issue devoid of politics. But I don’t see how, frankly, that is possible anymore. It would require grown-ups in the room – Democrats and Republicans, liberals, progressives, and conservatives alike – to sit down and brainstorm various ideas. I can’t speak for Mitch McConnell (Senate Majority Leader) or Kevin McCarthy (House Minority Leader), but personally I can’t imagine the likes of Chuck Schumer or Nancy Pelosi leaving politics aside in good faith. I just think they’re both poison and only capable of thinking politically how to destroy Donald Trump, and that’s not going to get anyone anywhere. I wish I was wrong.

You may laugh at this, but this is exactly the kind of thing President Trump could engage the likes of Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka on: that is, opening the door to a sober and honest discussion of the issue. Trump is hardly what one would call a politician, and this is one of those issues that ought to transcend politics. It’s also an issue many folks are obviously thinking about (or starting to take seriously), but haven’t the courage the speak up about in the fear of being accused of lacking compassion.